Thirds to william w



(No Model.)

' C. H. TRIPHAC-BN. FOOT GUARD POE RAILWAY PROGS.

WIHEESEE:

dfi

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THIRDS TO WILLIAM W. TERREF PLACE.

F AND CLAUDE L. RAMSEY, OF SAME FOOT-GUARD FOR RAILWAY-FROGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,199, dated May 23, 1893. Application led J' une 1, 1892. Serial No. 435,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TRIPHAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Ionia and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Foot-Guards for Railway- Frogs, of which the following is a specication, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of a foot guard for railway frogs, &c., of wire or other light strips bent spirally into a tapering form adapted to be forced between the meeting ends of the rails to prevent the trapping therein of the feet of people passing along the track.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway frog showing my device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line in Fig. 1.

A and B are the two track rails.

C are the guard rails at the side of the track.

In the tapering opening formed by the meeting of the T rails A and B, it has heretofore been the practice to place a wooden block or blocks of other material to prevent the foot from being caught in this wedge shaped space. This block has to be fitted to the space, is constantly breaking or rotting and is therefore a continual source of trouble and expense in the maintenance of railroads. I intend to use in place of such a block a bent wire frame D of suitable shape to t between the rails A and B and to extend back from the point asufcient distance to prevent the possibility of any ones foot being caught between; this frame Il preferably make of wire bent spirally and tapering from one end to the other, as shown in the drawings, so as to fit tightly between the foot and head of the rail, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of using wire I may use thin strips of wrought iron .or steel. When the frame has been forced into position between the rails it will be held from vertical displacement by the head of the rail and a nail or spike may be placed at the rear end to prevent longitudinal displacement.

The device is light, easily removable for cleaning and is thoroughly efficient. In places where it cannot be forced into the V shaped opening it maybe spiked down vat two points or more.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A foot guard for railway frogs dac., consisting of a single strip of metal bent spirally into a substantiallyrectangular cross-section, substantially as described.

2. A foot guard for railway frogs doc., con-N sisting of a tapering frame formed of a single strip of metal bent spirally, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. TRIPHAGEN. Witnesses:

OscAE N. J ENKINS, LEWIS F. CUTcHEoN. 

